Fall is in full swing during the month of November here at Lake Fork. The lake traffic is minimal with lots of hunters in the woods and the fishing is great. As the leaves continue to fall from the trees and the temperatures continue to grow colder, you can expect the fishing to get even better. This time of year really gives any angler the opportunity to catch fish on any given day and Lake Fork always provides the opportunity for you to catch a trophy bass of a lifetime on any given cast. Now through the end of the year is one of my favorite times to catch a giant bass!
The lake is currently 2.3 feet low so we could use a little fall rain, but we are still looking good as far as water levels going into 2026. The water temperatures are ranging from 67-71 degrees. Water clarity is clear on the main lake to slightly stained in some of the creeks from residual lake turnover. We have areas that are holding some real good grass and new vegetation growth. TPWD has been working hard to eradicate the overabundance of water hyacinth that has been over running some of the backs of the creeks.
Most every day we have been starting our day off shallow with some top water action. Great baits to throw right now are a Berkley Bullet Pop, yellow magic, walking baits like the Berkley J-Walker or Zara Spook. Fishing these baits over shallow main lake or secondary points in 2-4 ft of water will draw some big blow ups and most of these fish will inhale the bait. Overcast or rainy conditions have been best for these types of baits although we have caught some fish during the sunny days as well. The square billed “Square bull” or “Warpig” lipless crankbait have been my go-to baits lately for bass that are up shallow chasing shad. Best colors have been sexier shad, gilly, and chrome blue back. White chatter baits and Santone 1/4- 3/8 oz spinner baits on windy banks in 2-6 feet depths for these same shad eating bass. These patterns can be awesome when you get a very cloudy day. As the grass has started to re-emerge this pattern has been good and so has the wacky worm bite. You can catch very large numbers of bass by rigging a Berkley bottom hopper wacky style and fishing it weightless in these same areas. Best colors have been watermelon candy, plum, and red bug. Texas rigged soft plastics like the Berkley Powerworm in 7” inch size has been really good lately as well. I like to stick with darker plastics this time of year. Blue fleck, plum, june bug, and black & blue are best. Fishing these slowly around timber on the points leading into the creeks is best as shad are staging to move back. For a big bite up shallow you can also catch them on a big swimbait, The NEW Berkley Chop Block is legit, or a Berkley Cull Shad swimbait will get it done. I’m throwing mine on the NEW Abu Garcia Beast rods and reels. If you’re a swimbait guy and haven’t checked these out, you’ll want to get one in your hands for swimbait fishing!
The deep bite has really turned on over the past couple of weeks. I am catching a lot of fish out deep using a multitude of different techniques. Locating big schools of fish can be challenging out in the depths. That is why I really on my Garmin Echomap units and new I SEE U marine monitors o show me where they are at and provide a very large, detailed screen to scope with. The bass have been holding close to the schools of bait in 12-18 feet of water and will get even deeper as the month progresses. Once I locate a school of bass around the bait with my sonar, I am positioning my boat to take aim with the LiveScope and start firing at them with several different baits. The best and most reliable lure has been a jigging spoon. I use a big flutter spoon in the silver or gold color. This spoon mimics dying shad from the cold setting in, and big bass cannot resist it as an easy meal. It takes some practice to get used to it if you have never thrown one but once you get into the rhythm of it you will have a blast catching fish on it! I have also been targeting the feeding schools of bass with a Carolina rig or a drop shot. I like the Berkley Jerk Shad on my rig right now. It is just the right size and has lots of action as you pull it along. Best colors for me have been watermelon red magic and Houdini. I have also started to catch a few bass on a ¾ oz Santone Lures football head jig. JC’s Spicy Craw, Black/Blue or PB&J colors are good choices trailed by a Berkley Havoc Pit Boss or Chigger Craw. For the suspended bass out deep, I have been throwing the Berkley Powerbait Swim Shads in the 4” and 5” sizes. Bunker or Pearl white are best. Also, and umbrella rig tipped with Berkley Power Swimmers as well as a jighead minnow and a Berkley Stunna jerkbait. These baits will catch some giants offshore!
Well, I hope this helps anyone that’s coming out this month trying to chase some of these big bass around. If you would like to fish with me still this year, I still have just a few dates available. My 2026 schedule is filling fast though so contact me as soon as possible if you are beginning to plan your next year’s trip. I also have gift certificates available for those of you that are interested in purchasing a friend or loved one a guided trip on Lake Fork. You can contact me to make your reservation at 903-736-9888 or send me an email at la****************@***oo.com You can also visit my website for more information about Lake Fork and my guide service at www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com You can find me on Facebook and follow my official Lake Fork Trophy Bass Guide page at https://www.facebook.com/lakeforktrophybassguide
I have really enjoyed my Bass Cat boats the past few years and have been thrilled with my 4th new Puma STS and my new 2026 Lynx STS is on its way! I couldn’t be happier to be serving my customers on Lake Fork as part of the Bass Cat Team and am looking forward to providing more great trips this year out of my new boat! If you’re interested in checking out any of the Bass Cat models, be sure to reach out to Conroy Motorsports in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. They are the new Bass Cat dealer in the Lake Fork area and will be serving the area well with their team of sales professionals and service for Bass Cat Boats any of your service needs if you are in the Lake Fork area. They also carry ATV’s and service them so you can get your side by sides ready for hunting season! Contact Steven Stroman and tell him I sent ya. I would like to thank all my sponsors for 2025 and some new ones that have teamed up with me for the 2026 season already. I appreciate all their support as I serve all my great guide clients throughout the year on Lake Fork as well!
Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Cat Boats, Mercury, Conroy Motor Sports, I Am Second, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Garmin, Santone Lures, AFTCO, Costa Sunglasses, Power Pole, I SEE U, Elite Tungsten, Johnson Communications, Pro Guide Batteries, DD26 Fishing, Bass Boat Technologies, BDS Suspension, and Method Wheels.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. -Proverbs 3:6
Tight Lines & God Bless,
James Caldemeyer
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